may_20__1982.html

PIX #3 - Rev. E.D. Fager, pastor when church was 50
years old, in 1929

PIX #4 - Interior of church at South and Poplar when
organ was dedicated in 1908.

PIX #5 - First Reformed Church at South and Poplar
streets after addition in 1913

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is another of the articles presented
from time to time to about the churches in Fostoria. Because of
the length of the text and the many photos, it will consist of two
installments, this being the first.

Many of the churches in America date back to origins
in Europe and the Grace United Church of Christ is no exception.

In the early days of Ohio, many settlers in Seneca
County and the surrounding area were of German origin. When they
built their churches here they clung to their family religious preferences,
but sometimes altering their beliefs to meet the freedom of American
and elinimating old church practices which they disliked.

EARLY RURAL CHURCHES

According to Rev. E.D. Fager's historical notes which
he put together in 1929, "In about the year, 1849, there was organized
a German reformed church, known as Zion Reformed, located about
three miles southwest of Fostoria. As to the exact meeting place
of the congregation for the first 15 years, we have no knowledge.
However, we have a bill of sale dated Oct. 13, 1864, which shows
that John Shilling and his wife Anna, sold a lot to Jacob Earnest
and Abraham Deible, trustees of the church for the sum of $10".

Other than the location of the lot being in Hancock
County, section 11, range 12, nothing is known about the church
building or the ministers for those early years.

In the eraly 1850's, under the leadership of Rector
rubin Good, a professor at Heidelberg College, Tiffin, a church
was organized near the Rehoboth Church in Jackson Township, Seneca
County, on the Conrad Myers farm. The new congregation worshipped
for several years in a school building no longer used. Conrad Myers,
the first elder of the congregation donated the land. Under the
pastorates of Revs. Good, Shaw, Bear, Stauffer, Herrig, Rettig and
Richter, the congregation grew to more than 100.

In about 1867, the church in Jackson Township was
relocated, and a new building was constructed on a lot purchased
from Jacob and eva Stahl, in section 21 in township three, range
13. The church became known as Olive Chapel.

In 1870, The Rev. Theodore Bacher began preaching
to a small group of people in Fostoria. He and his congregation
purchased a lot to build a church, but when Bacher received a call
to the Reformed church in Fremont, the church disbanded.

REV. CASSELMAN WAS ORGANIZER

Then in 1875, Rev. Amos casselman, a student in the
Heidelburg Theological Seminary, Tiffin, began serving Olive Chapel
as a supply-minister, preaching every other Sunday to a congregation
of approximately 40.

Sometime later, Casselman learned of the Zion Church,
mentioned earlier, which had been abandoned. Only a few of the former
members were still living in the vicinity of the church, but the
old church records were available. The church was cleaned and repaired,
and Casselman started preaching there too. Soon, approximately 75
members were attending.

Zion and Olive Chapel later joined in issuing a call
to Casselman to serve the two congregations, which he did until
1883. The initial salary was $300 per year, without parsonage. Later,
the salary was increased to $550 per year, plus house rent.

At the same time, Casselman served Zion and Olive
Chapel, he also filled in at the Congregational Church in West Millgrove,
and occasionally preached in one of the Fostoria churches to add
to the meager salary.

During that period of time when Rev. Casselman was
serving Zion and Olive Chapel, he had one main objective - to form
a church in Fostoira, but he had to wait until conditions were right.

The old Zion church, badly in need of repair at that
time, was abandoned by vote of the congregation. The United Brethern
Church in Fostoria was secured for holding Sunday afternoon services,
which began Dec. 1, 1878.

FOSTORIA CHURCH ORGANIZED IN 1879

One man, Henry W. Konkle, a brick layer and contractor
had offered to pay $120 for a building fund to start a church in
Fostoria. That was the start which eventually made Casselman's dream
come true. He called the congegrational church in March 1879, at
which time the church was formally organized.

The name Grace Reformed Church of Fostoria was adopted.
The charter was received from the state April 20, 1879. Martin Mueller
and Henry W. Konkle were elected elders and Samuel Stewart and Jacob
Hoffmaster as deacons.

FIRST CHURCH ON WEST NORTH

The list of contributions for a new church building
soon reached $1,200. A lot (No. 176) on West North Street was purchased
from James and Laura Fritcher for $300 and building plans were completed.
That lot where the church was built is now the site of a two-family
apartment house, numbers 252-254 on the north side of West North,
next to PK Lumber Co.

When the building was completed, it was described
as "an attractive frame building with a vestibule and a gallery".
A good bell was hung in the spire and a good reed organ was purchased.
The pulpit and pews were homemade. It was not as large as some of
the other churches in Fostoria but as comfortable and cozy as any,
with a seating capacity of about 250. The total cost was $2,500.

Dedication of the new church was Sept 28, 1879, with
Rev. J.H. Good, DD, and Rev. Theodore J. Bacher of Wooster, the
preachers for that day. Thereafter, services were held every Sunday
morning and evening and mid-week, with Rev. Casselman continuing
as pastor. He also conducted services at Olive Chapel on Sunday
afternoons.

So, readers can see how slowly, but surely, the efforts
of many pastors and the desires of individuals to have church buildings
for worship of God were finally brought to fruition with the establishment
of Grace Reformed Church.

NEXT CHURCH AT POPLAR AND SOUTH

The Grace Reformed Church continued in their church
on West North Street for about 20 years. On Aug. 28, 1898, the consistory
decided to look for a new location. Two lots were secured at Poplar
and Sourth streets by trading the church-owned parsonage at 432
W. Fremont St., and paying an additional $200.

The church lots on West North Street were traded to
Koss & German Lumber Co. for $600 worth of material for the new
church building. When the old church building was later torn down,
the material was used to erect the parsonage for the new church.

The contract for the new church was awarded to F.P.
Lindsey at $3,572. Work was started Sept. 29, 1900, and it was ready
for use and dedication Jan. 20, 1901.

The next few years saw other improvements and additions
to the new church and the name was changed to the First Reformed
Church in 1901. In January 1908, permission was given to the young
people's Christian Endeavor to raise funds for a new organ. they
succeesed with the help of Andrew Carnegie who donated one half
of the cost of $1,400. Installation and other changes to accomodate
the organ raised the cost to $2,000.

In 1913, the consistory appointed a committee consisting
of J.A. Peter, J.F. Fruth, Fred Flechtner, Allen Keefe, F.A. Harmer
to plan for the building of an addition to the church to seerve
as a Sunday school room. The new addition was completed at a cost
of $7,000. Dedication took place Nov. 29, 1914. Dr. Charles E. Miller,
Rev. O.G. King and Rev. G.W. Good participated in the dedication
services.

In 1924, various improvements, repairs and redecorating
of the church was completed including new lighting fixtures at a
total cost of $7,000. At that time, Mrs. Josephine Keefe and son
Curtis gave the church a new marble baptism font in memory of Orris
Allen and Lulu Keefe, children of Joesphine.

50TH BIRTHDAY IN 1929

In 1929, when Rev. E.D. Fager was still pastor and
the Grace Reformed Church was 50 years old, he challenged the congregation
during their golden anniversary "to bring 50 living candles for
the church's birthday, candles in whole hearts is the Light of Eternity.
Those 50 new candles could give us a membership of 364, he said.

The anniversary services were held from Martch 18-22,
1929, a full week of meetings with speakers for the various groups
in the church, men, women and young people.